Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology FUT Minna Prof Abdullahi Bala has approved the establishment of University Benevolence Fund to sponsor financially incapable students.
He said it is part of efforts to address the increasing trend of students being forced to drop out of the institution.
Prof. Bala said on Monday during the 2nd and 3rd Annual Institutional Performance Review Retreat and formal launching of the Fund at FUT, Minna main campus that the essence of the Fund was because over 100 students dropped out as a result of various financial challenges.
According to him “the University Benevolence Fund is our initiative at addressing the increasing trend of numerous students being forced to drop out of the University due to poor financial status and inability to pay for their registration and maintenance.
“The Fund will provide loans, advice and assistance to indigent students within guidelines that will be developed by the University Students Financial Aid Committee (USFAC) that will regulate, and manage the Fund.”
Furthermore, he said “I believe in the future, the Fund will grow and become string enough to receive the scholarships and similar financial benefits awarded to students by the University for disbursement to approved student beneficiaries”.
Speaking on the recent gunmen attack néar the FUT, Minna gate, the Vice Chancellor said “we have beefed up security, we have done a lot and we are still doing alot because we have breed up the local vigilantes; Police patrol regularly and we are using technology to boost our security”.
Also, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Emmanuel Udenzi told Journalists that out if the 112 students who dropped out, the institution is ready to have, and support only those who deferred their admissions with genuine cases”.
He added that the Fund will provide loans without interest to support viable students’ projects that are economically viable. We will also offer financial advisory services to students”.
